If so and so played in that team....

[Excape Goat]

Where would those team be if so and so played on them?? I am talking about fit player only.

Kubala with Hungary during the 1950s: Except the WC, Hungary achieved everything so he wont make much difference. Puskus was injuried during the WC Final. Could Kubala save them? He did play well with Kocsis and Czibor at Barcelona years later. So they would have mixed well.

Cantona with France 1998: France 1998 won the World Cup, but they are not rated very high against other great World Cup teams. The French 1998 winning team was known as a defensive team. Their forwards -- Dugarry, Henry and Trezeguet -- played poorly due to various reasons. What if France took Cantona to the World Cup and he played liked he did with Manu throughout the mid-1990s? Would France 1998 become one of the greatest in the history of the game?

Romario with Brazil 1998: Ronaldo and Romario formed one of the best ever attacking partnership in the history of the game in 1997. They would have stormed through the Final. With Ronaldo unfit for the Final, could Romario beat France alone??

Schuster with West Germany 1982 to 1990: He was only 30 years old at the time of WC 1990 Final. He would have been with the team if he did not retire from international soccer. Somehow, I doubt he can play with Matthaeus on the same team, but I think he would have done something in 1982, 1986 and 1988. His playmaking would have helped Germany in 1982 and 1986. Perhaps, his leadership would have beaten Holland in 1988.

Others

Cruyff with Holland 1978
Gullit with Holland 1994.

[Cassano]

Well, concerning Italy, I guess you can always play the Baggio card. If Baggio was brought to Japorea in 2002, he could've found playing time, especially in the games against Croatia, Mexico, Korea (basically all of them). He could've came on as a late sub and added some quality when it was needed. I knew that he wouldn't be brought to Euro 2004, but if he was, he would've been a more than suitable replacement for Totti while he served his suspension.

[Bertje]

Well had van Basten's ankels not been the target of many attacking feet during his carier he might have kicked us to a WC.

Had Cruijff and Michels chosen for van Beveren he might have saved us in the '74 final.

[SirManchester]

I know this isn't exactly what this thread had in mind but if Germany 02 had Desiler and Scholl who were in top form prior to the worlc cup,They would have given Germany the attacking edge they needed. and finally, if they had Ballack for the final game, I think it would have been a much different game.

[super_k]

I know this isn't exactly what this thread had in mind but if Germany 02 had Desiler and Scholl who were in top form prior to the worlc cup,They would have given Germany the attacking edge they needed. and finally, if they had Ballack for the final game, I think it would have been a much different game.

Desiler and Scholl were injuried so it was liked the others mentioned. Would Sammer be young enough for 2002 if he did not get injuried.

[Excape Goat]

I was talking about fit players who rejected tonplay for NT or ignored by the NT. Nobody can have done about injuried players. I put cantona on the list because he would still be young enough for WC 1998.

[silver bullet]

Had Cruijff and Michels chosen for van Beveren he might have saved us in the '74 final.
And with Cruyff, Van Hanegem and Van Beveren at WC'78, we'd have another world cup.

[Bertje]

And with Cruyff, Van Hanegem and Van Beveren at WC'78, we'd have another world cup.

Another? We already have one? :eek:

Where is it. ;) :D

[dor02]

I was talking about fit players who rejected tonplay for NT or ignored by the NT. Nobody can have done about injuried players. I put cantona on the list because he would still be young enough for WC 1998.He was 32 so he would have been able to do his bit. Papin, if he was still playing, could have played in the French squad but he was 35 though there have been players who played at World Cups at that age.

Baggio is an obvious case as well as Zola. Zola might have made a difference in the USA 94 Final. Bloddy scemo Nigerian, Augustine Eguavoen! Actor! Sacchi should have had more faith in Zola too!

Kubala would have made a difference in 1954 for Hungary. He was a great player with Barca and he is one of the greatest players to never played in a World Cup. Add him to that squad and the quality in that squad would go up.

How about Paulo Futre? He might have done something for Portugal at Euro 96 and Euro 2000.

Fernando Redondo was 21 when the 1990 World Cup occured but he didn't go to Italy because of Bilardo's tactics. If Argentina were coached by somebody else, Redondo might have been a star at that World Cup.

If Marius Lacatus had been playing well before the 1994 World Cup, Romania would have had a stronger forward line. Hagi, Dumitrescu and Radacioiu were great though Lacatus would have been a very good bonus.

[silver bullet]

Another? We already have one? :eek:

Where is it. ;) :D
The one we would have won in 1974 if we'd taken Van Beveren, as you suggested.

[Excape Goat]

How about Paulo Futre? He might have done something for Portugal at Euro 96 and Euro 2000.


Good example. Futre would have been 30 at Euro 96. I did not recall what he was doing in 1996. Wasnt he injuried?


I thought of maradona on the 1978 team, but he would not have made much difference at that age.

[lanman]

Kubala would have added so much to an already great side. Although he was an inside right he would probably have played right wing for Hungary (Czibor started out as an inside left but moved to the left wing so it wouldn't have hurt Kubala much) and the Hungarian position swapping would have suited him down to the ground. The one weak link in the Hungarian side was right wing - Budai and Toth were far from bad players, but not in the same league as the rest of the Hungarian attack. Slightly off topic, but the one player I've always thought would fit perfectly in at right wing for Hungary would have been Tom Finney.

[nicephoras]

Yeah, provided Kubala could have stayed sober enough for an entire world cup, that Hungary team would have been even better. Herrera once said that Kubala was the most naturally talented player he had ever coached.

[Excape Goat]

Yeah, provided Kubala could have stayed sober enough for an entire world cup.

He was very good even when he was drunk. :)

[nicephoras]

He was very good even when he was drunk. :)

Provided he could find his way to the stadium, yeah. ;)

[guado]

He was 32 so he would have been able to do his bit. Papin, if he was still playing, could have played in the French squad but he was 35 though there have been players who played at World Cups at that age.



How about Paulo Futre? He might have done something for Portugal at Euro 96 and Euro 2000.

Fernando Redondo was 21 when the 1990 World Cup occured but he didn't go to Italy because of Bilardo's tactics. If Argentina were coached by somebody else, Redondo might have been a star at that World Cup.


what about redondo in 98?

futre would've ben a nice addition to portugal- even though nuno gomes didn't do so bad in euro 2000.

[Excape Goat]

What about Schuster for the entire 1980s??? The West German 1986 team lacked a playmaker. He might be just enough to beat Argentina in the Final. I have only questions of Matthaeus' role on the team.

[petersoccer]

I was talking about fit players who rejected tonplay for NT or ignored by the NT. Nobody can have done about injuried players. I put cantona on the list because he would still be young enough for WC 1998.

Cantona would not have helped this team. The 1998 French team was a weak side that got lucky.

[dor02]

What about Schuster for the entire 1980s??? The West German 1986 team lacked a playmaker. He might be just enough to beat Argentina in the Final. I have only questions of Matthaeus' role on the team.I read a match summary of West Germany vs Uruguay and it said that Beckenbauer had to use Magath as their playmaker.

How do you think Schuster would have given more strength to the West German side of 1986? I only know a bit about Schuster and I haven't seen any footage of him.

Good example. Futre would have been 30 at Euro 96. I did not recall what he was doing in 1996. Wasnt he injuried?I'm not sure. Maybe. I think at that stage he might have been with Reggiana and he injured his knee but I'm not 100 per cent sure.

[dor02]

what about redondo in 98?That's another for the list.